Wansolmoana-One Salt Ocean
A permanent Exhibition, Opening today at The Australian Museum,
1 William Street
Sydney NSW 2010
Australia
10am-5pm Mon-Sun Free Entry.
Vaka (Canoe) 'Tai Tokelau' made entirely from the Kanava tree in Tokelau, representing both the past and present. Photographer: Jeff Tan Photography
Delve into the ties Pasifika peoples have with the past, each other and the environment, in this new permanent exhibition. Wansolmoana – meaning One Salt Ocean – reflects the cultural significance of the immense body of water that connects the islands and people across the Pacific region. It blends the wisdom of Ancestors with the voices of the present to ensure a vibrant legacy for future generations.
Discover Pasifika identities through the stories and objects that explore rich histories, practices and distinct customs. The exhibition features a rare Rotuman Suru, believed to be the first of its kind made since the 1800s. A testament to the tenacity of knowledge holders passing their expertise on to a new generation, this cultural practice has been resurrected after two centuries.
Learn about the exploitation and disruption of Pasifika lives, lands, oceans and freedoms, to the ongoing resistance and strength of Pasifika peoples. A Tokelauan Vaka, a canoe fashioned from traditional wood from Tokelau by the Sydney-based diaspora, symbolises the preservation of traditional canoe making skills, language, and a fight for survival in the face of the climate emergency.
Breathtaking objects from the world-renowned Pacific cultural collections of the Australian Museum, will be accompanied by contemporary artworks and newly acquired pieces, including a stunning Kapa (Hawaiian bark cloth) by artist Roen Hufford, a video installation by Angela Tiatia, and powerful and evocative artworks by Australian South Sea Islander (ASSI) artists Jasmine Togo-Brisby and Dylan Mooney.
Curated by the Australian Museum’s Pasifika staff and cultural knowledge holders in Australia and from around the Pacific, this new permanent exhibition celebrates the complex, varied and dynamic cultures and languages of today's Pasifika peoples.
Wansolmoana Opening Weekend Programs
(Click to View)
For More information visit the Museum Website